NTR Varsity to Set Up AI-Based Disease Modeling and Decision Support Centre

Vijayawada: NTR University of Health Sciences will establish an artificial intelligence-based disease modeling and decision support center within the scope of its Integrated Disease Surveillance Program.

Vice-Chancellor P Chandrasekhar told media here on Monday that the university will take new initiatives to curb diseases as well as raise standards in medical education.

Referring to various resolutions adopted at the 244th governing council meeting of NTR university chaired by health secretary Saurabh Gaur on March 17, the VC said, “We have decided to seek financial support from graduates to promote research by students and faculty from ayush, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy, allied sciences and other medical courses, besides promoting sports.”

This will involve an outlay of Rs 22.13 billion and the decisions adopted will remain in force for three years, he said.

The VC said that a proposal to allot around 25 acres of land in Amaravati to CRDA is under active consideration.

The disease modeling and decision support center will institutionalize advanced predictive modeling and scenario simulations. It operates under the administrative control of the Department of Health and Family Welfare. The cost of its installation is estimated at ₹ 5.73 crore and enables the creation of 13 poles.

Other decisions were to allocate Rs 10 lakh annually as a grant to each government medical college for organizing alumni meetings with former students; grant of Rs.10 lakh to each government medical college for organizing inter-collegiate/state/national tournaments; Research scholarships for 1,000 students; and Rs 2,00,000 towards project-based research assistance. Faculty research grants to 200 faculty members with financial assistance of Rs 5,00,000 to Rs.